REPORT OP THE DIRECTOR 1898 " vl 



Geological hall. Specimens have been collected from various parts 

 of the state to strengthen the weak points in the synoptic collec- 

 tion. A list of these will be found in the appendix. A few speci- 

 mens from the Carboniferous system of Pennsylvania have been 

 added and, under the title card of each formation or group through- 

 out the collection, a small map of the state, which is colored to 

 show the location of the outcrops of that group, has been placed. 

 With a few additions, the synoptic collection will be the most com- 

 plete exhibition in existence of the rock formations of New York 

 state ; and, as New York is the classic field of American Paleozoic 

 geology, it is most appropriate that the state museum should possess 

 the best collection it is possible to obtain. 



Economic geology 



The work in this branch was chiefly conducted, this year as here- 

 tofore, by the director of the museum, but, for lack of available 

 funds the field work in this branch, was limited. 



Many reports having appeared in the newspapers and many others 

 having been verbally circulated, describing the discovery of gold in 

 paying quantities in the sands of Saratoga, Warren, Herkimer and 

 other counties, it seemed important to visit the plant of the one 

 company which had erected a mill and announced that it was 

 operating on a profitable basis. * Accordingly a visit was made to 

 Hadley, Saratoga co., by Mr J. N. Nevius and by the courteous per- 

 mission of the superintendent the operations of the Sacandaga min- 

 ing and milling co. were studied. The result of the investigation 

 may be found in the appendix following this report. 



In connection with this newly aroused interest in gold deposits, 

 considerable time has been spent in the laboratory determining 

 mineral specimens for citizens of the state. Many hundreds of 

 samples of all sorts of material have been submitted as gold ore, but 

 none of them has shown an appreciable amount of that metal. Ap- 

 parently the public fails to appreciate that gold is a widely distri- 

 buted metal, rarely occurring in quantities sufiicient to pay for 

 working it. Almost any rock on assay will yield a trace of gold. 

 In Central park, New York city, a number of specimens have been 

 collected which yielded a result equivalent to $4 of gold in a ton 

 of rock. 



